Grant's Top 5 Books

1. Carrie by Stephen King

2. Game of Thrones by George R.R. Martin

3. Wolf of Wall Street by Jordan Belfort

4. Batman: The Long Hallowe'en by Jeph Loeb

5. Holes by Louis Sachar

Mrs. Wilson's Top 5 Books

In no particular order:

1. The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams

Arthur Dent hitches a ride just before the Earth is destroyed but what he really wants is a cup of tea. Adams' book is wonderful, I've lost count of how many times I've read since 2nd year in high school but I still find it funny and every reading beings a new perspective.

2. Crocodile on the Sandbank by Elizabeth Peters
The first of the Amelia Peabody stories which I can't recommend highly enough. This volume sees our Victorian heroine head off to Egypt and end up mixed up in an adventure on an archaeological dig site. The author's an Egyptologist so the archaeology is spot on.

3. Flashman by George MacDonald Fraser
Harry Flashman is a Victorian war hero to the public but is really a coward and bully. You shouldn't like him but you do and the stories are brilliant adventures with the added bonus of being historically accurately.

4. Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier

The shadow of Maxim de Winter's first wife is long and haunts his new wife when she arrives at his magnificent home, Manderley. It's a brilliant read and was not at all what I had expected.

5. Cat Among the Pigeons by Agatha Christie

Hercule Poirot solves the murder of a PE teacher at a girls school. I love all Christie's work as a rule but this one is a personal favourite.

Free chance to meet author Keith Gray

Meet Keith Gray for free at 6.30pm on the 26th November 2015 at the Bathgate Parnership Centre, Lindsay House, 22 - 25 South Bridge Street, Bathgate EH48 1TL.

Click here for larger version of the flyer.  

For more information email dswestlothian@gmail.com 

You can find out more about Keith here.  

This event is being held as part of Book Week Scotland.  

Gemma's Been Reading..

King of the Cloud Forrest by Michael Morpurgo ***
Not the best. Entertaining at times but felt like it went on and on.

How to Fossilize Your Hamster: And Other Amazing Experiments for the Armchair Scientist edited by Mick O'Hare **** 
Great experiments to try.

Mr Stink by David Walliams *****
It was amazing, funny at times.

The King's Curse by Philipa Gregory *****
Amazing.

Little Women by Louisa May Alcott *****
I love reading as it captures my imagination.

My Head Teacher is a Vampire Rat by Pamela Butchart *****
It was hilarious I loved it.

Reading Hack Podcast

The first JYHS Library Podcast has been launched! 

The junior Reading Hack group discusses the big issues rasied by the Harry Potter series.

Listen for yourself here.

Mrs. Wilson's been reading...

Batgirl: Vol.1 The Darkest Reflection by Gail Simone ***

This particular book collects the first few issues of the relaunched Batgirl for the 'All New 52' and was originally published in 2011. It reads well as a stand alone volume and the six comics link nicely together. The stories and characters are enjoyable to read and the alternative art work is interesting to look through. You don't need to know the lore of the comics to read the new 52 (and I have to say I've found it more of a hindrance when you have preconceived ideas about the characters) so it's a good place to start into the DC universe.

Three stars is probably harsh for this collection - it's probably really a four but while I enjoyed the writing and artistry, I was disappointed by the a younger, able bodied Barbara Gordon (though the repercussions after being wheelchair bound is a addressed in every issue). Not that this young incarnation wasn't an interesting character in her own right, just that she isn't as interesting to me as the she was as the wheel-chair bound, older, Oracle/Barbara Gordon before the reboot.

Mrs. Borthwick's been reading..

A Question of Blood by Ian Rankin ***
Crime in Edinburgh!
Crime in West Lothian!
Crime everywhere!
Slow to get to the ending though :(

The Bone Clocks by David Mitchell **

It's about spirits occupying the bodies of different people in a very confusing manner. Written from the perspective of several characters. If you like strange - you'll love this!